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Presumptive Regeneration & Infant Baptism

Today I received a very good e-mail from a dear pastor friend of mine. I must admit, I must have been in a lull or something regarding our paedobaptist friends and those of them that adhere to the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). I guess I assumed that many of our paedobaptist friends did not believe certain parts of the WCF that would amount in presumtive regeneration/grace. For example here it says: VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinancy the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time." So I need to find out how many of my presbyterian brothers and sisters believe that baptizing infants does more than put them in the covenant family until they show that they are not of the elect and saved, but believe that such baptism is conferred by the Holy Ghost so as that they will be saved and evidence that they are of the elect (whew). Not just that, I need to find out how many of them believe this statement: "great sin to condemn or neglect this" regarding paedo(infant)baptism. May the Lord forgive me for assuming, and neglecting this important issue, and give me wisdom as I seek to find what out paedobaptist friends believe regarding this.

Comments

pilgrim said…
The proper view of the WCF is not presumptive in the sense we presume our children to be saved.

But we do treat them as part of the visible Church and the Covenant.

But if we fail to train our children properly and press upon them their need for Christ we have failed the Biblical standards for parents.
Fri Sep 16, 02:07:00 PM CDT
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